Hindu devotees are covered with colored powder at the Radha Rani Temple during the Lathmar Holi Festival on March 21 in Barsana, India. The festival is held before the national Holi Day event March 27. Sanjay Kanojia, AFP/Getty Images

Hindu devotees pray at the Radha Rani Temple as colored powder floats through the air during the Lathmar Holy Festival in Barsana. The tradition of using colored powder began with the legend of the goddess Radha and the god Krishna. Krishna was jealous of Radha's fair complexion and while in a mischievous mood, he applied colored powder to her face. Manish Swarup, AP

Women from Barsana village hit a man from Nandgaon village, center, with sticks during the Lathmar Holy Festival. In addition to throwing colored powder, the women from Barsana, hometown of the goddess Radha, beat men from Nandgaon, the hometown of the god Krishna, with wooden sticks as the men tease them. Manish Swarup, AP

A woman from Barsana village hits a man from Nandgaon village with a wooden stick. Manish Swarup, AP

A powder bomb explodes over the crowd at the Radha Rani Temple. Sanjay Kanojia, AFP/Getty Images

A villager from Nandgaon is soaked with water and colored powder. Manish Swarup, AP